Costa Rica Holidays 2022/2023

Packed with adventure and ecotourism, holidays to Costa Rica are brimming with tropical rainforest, wildlife reserves and volcanic parks. On the other side of the coin are its idyllic, secluded beaches that are sure to attract those in need of some indulgence.
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Costa Rica Holiday Deals 2022/2023

Relaxing and being at one with nature

The Central American country of Costa Rica is a place of rich natural beauty, from its long, deserted beaches to the lush rainforest and volcanic interior. Holidays can be spent doing very little or romancing in luxury resorts, and there are busier places to stay that are great for families and those looking to indulge in some Costa Rican nightlife. Adventures abound among its numerous natural parks and forest tours, while there are outdoor exploits to be found in almost all of its resorts, including horse-riding and scuba diving.

Nestled between Panama and Nicaragua, Costa Rica is a Spanish-speaking country with plenty of Mexican influence. It has coasts on the Pacific to the west and Caribbean to the east, both boasting excellent stretches of sand and clear, warm water. The majority of the resorts are located along the Pacific coast, with the north-western Guanacaste region being particularly popular.

Currency: Costa Rican Colón

Language: Spanish

Time Difference: GMT -6

Population: Approx 4.8m

Religion: Roman Catholic

Regions

Holidays in Costa Rica

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Regions

Playa Conchal
If you want to get off the beaten track, there's nothing better than Playa Conchal holidays. It's one of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches – if not the most extraordinary. The pink-white sands are made up of shells and coral, giving the beach a luminescent glow that contrasts perfectly with the turquoise waves from the Pacific Ocean. Playa Conchal is a quiet place – you won't find more than a few hotels and villas in the area. However, half an hour up the road is the much busier Tamarindo, so you can enjoy a peaceful afternoon on the beach before heading out for an evening of entertainment.

El Jobo
A small but mighty South American country, Costa Rica is bursting with exotic landscapes and wildlife. It has coasts on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, making its beaches one of this country's most beautiful features. Holidays to Costa Rica generally mean escaping to a paradise of deep tropical forest where waterways and mysterious creatures hide. And that's certainly the case with El Jobo. El Jobo sits in the far north-west corner of Costa Rica and is virtually an untouched corner of paradise. Tucked away and nestled between forest-covered mountains is a just a single hotel with a secluded beach.

Papagayo Bay
Papagayo Bay holidays are a little bit special. This area of outstanding natural beauty is not just gorgeous beaches, breath-taking views and year-round sunshine. Papagayo Bay has also established a sustainability programme for hotels and resorts in order to protect the surrounding ecosystem. And what an ecosystem it is. The bay sits in front of dense green jungle, home to howler monkeys and toucans. You can watch as hermit crabs and iguanas scuttle across the sands. It's a town-less resort so you won't find the usual tourist traps here, just a few top-notch hotels communing happily with nature.

Playa De Matapalo
Escape a classic tourist destination on your Costa Rica holidays and head to this wild and wonderful beach resort along the Central Pacific. Here you can laze on the deserted beach, unwinding to the songs of exotic birds or head inland and explore the vast mountain ranges covered in dense rainforest.

Playa Flamingo
The gentle curve of Playa Flamingo makes for a Costa Rican beach unlike any other, plus it's home to the country's largest marina. While you're here, expect to take in abundant wildlife, watersports activities and succulent dishes as you explore a dynamic region of a country big on eco-tourism.

Playa Hermosa
Nestled on the west coast of Costa Rica and distinguished by its pale sand and blue sea, Playa Hermosa has become the go-to destination for the downtempo lifestyle Costa Rica holidays excel at. Expect long, sunny days and balmy nights at cosy restaurants in one of the world's most wondrous locales.

Playa Tamarindo
Greeting the Pacific Ocean with big smiles and bountiful beach life, Playa Tamarindo takes the Costa Rica holiday reputation for fun in the sun and amplifies it with stunning natural beauty and tremendous opportunities to shop, dine, surf and explore.

Peaceful and playful

In Costa Rica you’re free to enjoy the ultimate away-from-it-all trip, staying in luxury accommodation at Playa de Matapalo or Playa Flamingo – the latter of which is known for its fishing opportunities and sunset cruises. If you prefer, you could also stay near a small town like Playa Tamarindo to make the most of its facilities.

What all resorts across the country have in common is access to amazing beaches and tropical jungles. You can easily get set up on family-friendly nature tours through the jungle and mangroves, exploring caves and the ocean. As well as wildlife-spotting, cheap Costa Rica holidays are full of opportunities to go rock climbing, ziplining, scuba diving and horseback riding to take in the scenery.

Upbeat Tamarindo

Playa Tamarindo is perhaps the liveliest place to stay in Costa Rica and you’ll be in the company of surfers who make the most of the waves here. There are some good jewellery and clothes shops, as well as a central plaza that houses bars and one nightclub. Aqua Disco is set over two floors and puts on a popular Ladies Night every Monday.

In Playa Tamarindo and nearby Playa Hermosa, you’ll find beach bars that put on parties on the sand, but otherwise nightlife is pretty low key in Costa Rica. Much of the entertainment is in the hotels, with live music and shows being held regularly.

Ecotourism rules

In order to preserve Costa Rica’s beautiful natural environment, its government has formed national conservation areas, including over 100 national parks, biological reserves and wildlife refuges. In the north-western area near Playa Hermosa and Tamarindo are Parque Nacionals Santa Rosa, Guanacaste, Palo Verde and Rincon de la Vieja.

Ecotourism is encouraged and you can explore these areas with a guide, who’ll take you to spot the exotic, colourful birds and wildlife including patterned tree frogs and sloths. There are also night tours where you can spot giant insects, moths and bats. Even if you don’t go on an organised tour, you’re sure to see monkeys frolicking in the trees and turtles flapping on the beaches so make sure to check out our Costa Rica holiday All Inclusive deals.

Central Costa Rica’s volcanoes and capital city

The centre of the country is home to two volcanoes – Arenal and Poas – with the former looming over a huge lake of the same name. Local tour guides offer boat trips to take in the immense scenery, plus some of the world’s top windsurfing and sailboardingconditions. You can also kayak on the lake and catch rainbow bass or cycle or ride horse-back around its shores.

South of Lake Arenal is Monteverde cloud forest, an unusual area of woodland where the top canopy is almost always covered in fog. The moisture here creates a huge amount of biodiversity. You can traverse a set of eight hanging bridges that are strung high across the trees before ziplining one kilometre down, spotting toucans as you go.

If shopping and culture is more your thing, Costa Rica’s capital San Jose is located in the centre of the country. It offers a fantastic mix of neo-classical and modern architecture, housing numerous art galleries, bars and museums.

Location

Map showing the location of Costa Rica View Costa Rica on the map